Lasertel’s parent firm Leonardo commits to $5m capital investment

In early May, Lasertel Inc of Tucson, AZ, USA (which makes high-power lasers and integrated systems for platforms including UAVs, space and airborne applications as well as next-generation man-portable systems) announced a $5m capital investment by its parent company (Italy-based aerospace & defense firm Leonardo) in order to increase manufacturing capacity and advance efforts in developing high-power laser diodes.

The investment, which includes $3.5m in capital equipment, will:

increase manufacturing capacity for low size, weight and power (SWaP) laser diode pump modules in support of high-volume directed-energy programs;

The investment “demonstrates the commitment by Leonardo to supporting the continued growth of Lasertel,” comments Lasertel’s president Dr Mark McElhinney.

With significant advances in the past two years in laser diode pump sources capable of providing high power and low SWaP, and continuing demand for increased power and brightness for applications such as directed energy and lidar, Lasertel says that it can now invest in the research needed to meet the needs of emerging applications. It expects that investments in capabilities and capacity will allow laser diodes to meet the power and cost demands as these technologies approach widespread adoption.

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